Huge virus outbreak in Ohio prisons highlights risk at U.S. lockups
A massive coronavirus outbreak that has sickened nearly 4,000 inmates in Ohio has highlighted the dangers lurking in the nation’s correctional facilities during the pandemic.
Prisons
Articles
Imprisoned exec says COVID-19 risks justify his release
The virus-wracked federal prison system has been broadening the ranks of inmates eligible for transfer to home confinement as officials seek to limit the spread of the coronavirus.
Residents at 29 nursing homes, state prison inmates infected with COVID-19
Both types of locations are considered serious in a pandemic, because the virus can spread quickly in confined spaces. In addition, elderly people in nursing homes or prisons with underlying medical conditions are considered especially vulnerable if they are infected.
Indiana’s inmates still eating meals together amid pandemic
The Indiana Department of Correction said there are no known cases of COVID-19 among the nearly 27,000 offenders housed at the state’s prison, but it also concedes that it hasn’t tested any of those inmates.
New Indiana rule adds risk assessments for booked inmates
A new Indiana rule requiring that booked inmates be assessed to determine risks or benefits of releasing them before trial is expected to eventually reduce overcrowding at the state’s county jails, criminal justice officials said.
Fishers woman to spend years in prison for fraud, identity theft
A 25-year-old Fishers woman has been sentenced to nearly five years in federal prison after she pleaded guilty to identity theft and defrauding banks of more than $115,000.
Firefighters battle blaze at Pendleton Correctional Facility
A fire at central Indiana's Pendleton Correctional Facility has been extinguished after heavily damaging one of the prison complex's buildings.
Indiana to launch coding program for women’s prison inmates
Gov. Eric Holcomb’s office says Indiana will be the second state to adopt The Last Mile coding program, which seeks to give inmates in-demand job skills and keep them out of the corrections system.
Tight job market opens doors for ex-offenders
Once shunned as too risky to hire, men and women with criminal records are finding more open doors in business and industry.
Report: Sentencing overhaul hasn’t meant big savings for state
The KSM study found the state's $11 million in estimated annual prison savings are largely consumed by the nearly $9.5 million it pays to counties holding low-level felons in jail.
Prison’s closure puts near-east-side block into play
The planned closing of a state prison on the near-east side will put into play an entire city block just minutes from downtown that could be ripe for residential development.
Minimum-security prison in Indianapolis to close this summer
State officials say a minimum-security prison that's operated in Indianapolis for nearly 150 years will close its doors on or before July 31.
New inmate health provider for state plans to rehire most of current staff
The firm set to take over as health care provider for the Indiana Department of Corrections plans to hire most of the 700 employees of the vendor it will replace.
UPDATE: Corrections health firm to lay off nearly 700 Indiana employees
The nation’s largest provider of health services for inmates lost its contract with the Indiana Department of Corrections to a competitor, which could rehire some of the workers.
Indiana prison medical chief works for private Illinois firm
The chief medical officer for Indiana's prison system held an overlapping position with a for-profit Illinois company that provides health care to correctional facilities in more than a dozen states, according to a published report.
Department of Correction seeks prison expansions
The Indiana Department of Correction presented a budget proposal to the House Ways and Means Committee on Monday that included about $50 million in additional funds to expand two of the state’s prisons.
BMV moves license plate production away from prisons
The Bureau of Motor Vehicles has entered into a $72 million contract with Intellectual Technology Inc. to produce and distribute the state’s license plates and vehicle registrations until the end of 2019.
Pence’s $51M prison expansion proposal met by skepticism
The proposal comes just months after Indiana's criminal sentencing laws changed in part to reduce the need for more prison space.
Inmates could get trades training under Senate bill
Senate Bill 173, authored by Sen. R. Michael Young, R-Indianapolis, requires the Indiana Department of Correction to establish a specialized vocational program to train minimum-security inmates in trades.
New program aims to keep inmates from reoffending
The First Time Offender Program will convert the Plainfield Short Term Offender Program into the Heritage Trail Correctional Facility and also offer addiction-recovery services, family and social support, mentoring and behavioral change programs.